As we make our way through Deuteronomy there are many chapters that we will skip over in our study and for devotional purposes as well. This does not mean that these passages are not worthy of your reading and study.

For our journey through the Bible we will be focused on any passage that may have a significant relationship with prophecy and the scenario that the Lord will unveil for us to study as we approach the fulfillment of these end of days prophecies.

Therefore, we come today for our devotional reading found in the 18th chapter that has a unique relationship with “prophecy” itself. The Lord had selected Moses as the “spokesman” to the Jewish people, thus Moses was the “prophet” that He had raised up for that day.

These verses in our devotional reading for today are the “standard” that the Lord sets for His “prophets”, Moses being the first and thus setting that standard for all the prophets to follow. The children of Israel were to listen to His prophets because these were the Lord’s representative to the Jews.

Verses 15 and 18 also speak of “the Prophet” to be raised up after the days of Moses. That Prophet would be Jesus Christ, the ultimate Prophet – the One who spoke God’s words and who provides deliverance for His people.

God gave Moses the “test” for a “true” Prophet of God, one who would speak the words of the Lord. This test was applicable in the days of Moses and it is the “test” today to be applied to all so-called prophets.

Verses 20-22 reveal the test of the prophet. Verse 22 is the final authority on a “true Prophet of God”. “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken”.

The standard is so high that it required death for the prophet who was a “false prophet”, verse 20, “even that prophet shall die”. If this standard was to be applied today to some of the “false prophets” in our world there would be a number of “deaths” to report.

It is sad to say that there are a growing number of “false prophets” in our world today and there are even some of them in “pulpits” in our churches. This was foretold by one of the New Testament Prophets, Paul, II Corinthians 11:13-15.

In fact, Jesus in His “Olivet Discourse”, Matthew 24, warned that just before His return to the earth at His Second Coming there would be “false prophets”, verses 11 and 24. This is the number one sign of the nearness of the Lord’s return.

Let me remind you that the Rapture precedes the Second Coming by seven years. If we are seemingly so close to His return, how close could the Rapture be? It could happen today, so keep looking up !

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for the “test” for the true Prophet’s that have spoken for you down through the years. Help me to study their prophecies in the Bible and make ready for the fulfillment of these prophecies, seemingly in our day.